Shillong, June 23: Education Minister Rakkam Sangma has attributed Meghalaya’s poor performance in the Performance Grading Index for States (PGI) to the state’s historical neglect of the education sector.
Sangma alleged that the previous governments’ lack of effort to reform and streamline the education system, build infrastructure, and ensure teacher attendance has had a lasting impact on the state’s education system.
“We have to understand that the figure which reflected today is the outcome of the government’s efforts. In the last 20-30 years, government of Meghalaya did not put any effort to reform or to streamline the education system, to build the infrastructure. The education sector was completely abandoned in the last 20-30 years. Government did not consider to build infrastructure. There is no electricity, no blackboard, there is no classroom, the building is completely dilapidated condition. There is no enrolment also and many teachers do not go to the schools – these were happening during the last 20-30 years,” the minister told reporters on Monday.
The minister pointed out that the government’s efforts to improve the education sector have been ongoing, with over 2,700 schools renovated and more than 700-800 schools provided with newly constructed buildings, toilets, smart classrooms, and ensured teacher attendance in the last two to three years.
Sangma emphasized that the current government’s initiatives will take time to reflect in the results, and the actual figure will improve over the next two to three years.
“Knowing all these, chief minister has reviewed the education scenario and now the government has started buidling infrastructure in all government institutions. In the last two-three years, more than 2700 schools have been renovated and more than 700-800 schools have been given with newly constructed buildings – we have constructed toilets, smart classrooms and we have ensured that all teachers are going to schools today. The actual figure therefore, will reflect may be after two-three years,” he said adding “What we are seeing the results today is the hard work of yesterday. Whatever work done today it will reflect tomorrow or day after. You will see the results of what we are doing today.”
Further, the minister urged critics to look back at the history of neglect in the education sector and take responsibility for the current state of affairs.
“So, whoever or whichever party has said or which are criticizing the government, they have to look back, who was in power for last 10-15 years ago. You should also understand and you should also take responsibility because it is your work that is being reflected today but what is being done today will reflect in the results tomorrow.”
The minister also highlighted the challenges in accurately assessing the state’s education system, citing the complexities of multiple school categories operating under a single UDI (Unique Digital Identifier).
He cited an example saying, “Supposed in our state practically, we do not need electricity in the classroom but in ministry it is being reflected there is no electricity in the classroom. If you talk in Rajasthan, they required AC in the classroom but in Shillong, we neither need fan nor we need AC, we have a good environment but however in the ministry, it was reflected that there is no electricity.”
“Also in one campus, we have 4-5 categories of schools like SSA, adhoc, deficit, government, RMSA and private. There are five different schools in one campus but having the same UDI where practically we are using same libraby, same toilet, same classroom, same commonroom, same road, same power and same playground.
If it reflect for one school, it would be 100 percent in terms of electricity, classroom, toilet, water but however it is reflected for six schools then the figure come down to may be 20-22 percent,” he added.
Sangma also noted that despite these challenges, the government is committed to improving the education sector and ensuring that all students have access to quality education.
“However, we are going to streamline all these under the dynamic leadership of the chief minister. The chief minister and government are committed to bring necessary reforms and you will see the results in the coming days,” the minister added.
Sangma’s comments come as a response to criticism from politicians and education experts regarding Meghalaya’s poor ranking in the PGI.
However, the minister remains optimistic that the government’s efforts will yield positive results in the future.
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